Share via

How can you identify and locate Temporary Files

Anonymous
2021-01-16T18:29:48+00:00

Under Windows 10   Start->Settings->System->Storage->C:  -  my 1TB drive shows 746GB used and 184GB Free - and the breakdown from there is:

Other:                        231GB

Temporary Files:        128GB    <-------??

Pictures:                    118GB

Other People:            105GB

System & reserved:     73GB

Apps & Games:           36GB

Documents:                 34GB

OneDrive:                    16GB

Music:                            695MB

etc.

First of all, I don't know what Other: and Other People: are:

1)  but clicking on the "Other", the breakdown shows a bunch of Folders from an Older computer, I guess that I had backed up on the C: drive - and I am OK with that.

2)  Clicking on the "Other People", for a breakdown all I get is:

     "You can manage other user accounts on this PC below"

      "Manage other people"      <-- (in clickable Blue, but clicking on it does nothing(

      AND THEN NOTHING 

I am assuming that this is my Admin User account - and am OK with that, it that is what it is

3)  MY CONCERN is with the 128GB of Temporary Files.

When I click on "Temporary Files" to get a breakdown, all I get is a list of Categories of temporary files with a total size of 2.18GB selected (to be removed) if I check on every one of the categories listed. 

So where are the other 126GB of Temporary Files.

I have searched everywhere, but frankly really don't know what to look for.  I have tried Disk Cleanup - and that didn't help either.

WARNING ABOUT DISK CLEANUP:  In trying to recover some Disk space, there was an item in Disk Cleanup that was labeled as "Deletes of System Restore Points" - which was supposed to Delete "old" System Restore points but save the new, last Restore point.  IT DOESN"T - it deleted my single last Restore point.  System & reserved was 226GB before the "Deletes of System Restore points", and 73GB after it wiped out my Restore point - not happy that it did that, but not too likely to need the Restore point, although it was recent, created by Windows when doing the Windows Version 20H2 update. [OK, I won't belabor this point farther - the Restore point is gone and I did pick up some disk space.]

But back to my questions of where  or how can I recover the 128GB that Windows has identified as Temporary Files.  Trying to do some large backups from OneDrive to an External Hard drive and need some additional space on my C: drive.

ron in shawnee

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-01-17T15:40:26+00:00

    Dave,

    Thanks for the response.  Yes, I have been using TreeSize for quite some time now - great little Utility, even the free one I am using.

    And yes, I can see space being used, but can't identify where or what the Windows Storage breakdown is identifying as "Temporary Files".  Actually I found the System Storage breakdown rather accurate EXCEPT for the Temporary Files breakdown.  The "Other" storage breakdown of the 231GB is fine (once I identified what was included there in the breakdown) as was the "Other people" identification (the 105GB being the size of my Admin user folder) - it is just that the 2GB breakdown of the Temporary Files size of 128GB makes no sense, and I would really like to have that space back.

    I guess I will have to take the detailed analysis route, using TreeSize to add up all of the files, folders, storage that it identifies and see if it all adds up to the 746GB of storage that Windows claims I am using - or if there is some un-accounted-for missing space.  I have avoided that route hoping for a much easier solution of just using Windows to delete the Temporary files.

    If everything adds up, I will post it here as a failure of the System Storage utility in Settings.

    And regarding your question about Delivery Optimization files, DirectX Shader, etc. - I didn't delete those as I have no idea what they were (and very small, only a few MB).  the only thing I felt comfortable removing were the Temporary Internet files (2GB of the 2.18GB identified)

    ron in shawnee

    0 comments
  2. DaveM121 869K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-01-16T19:07:57+00:00

    Hi roninrr2

    I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

    1

    When you ran Disk Cleanup, did you run it twice, to also choose to cleanup System files and did you delete all Delivery Optimization files?

    2

    The Storage Settings page is notorious for mis-reporting used Disk Space in versions 2004 and 20h2 of Windows 10

    Click the link below to download a small free utility called Treesize. Using that tool, you will instantly see where this space is being used

    https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

    To run TreeSize, right click its icon and choose Run as Administrator . . .

    Please provide a screenshot of your C drive in that TreeSize utility, so I can see your hard drive and work out where that space is being used and if there is an underlying problem . ..

    ________________________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    .

    0 comments